Adjustable length vacuum cleaner wand



April 5, 1966 M. E. BELICKA ETAL ADJUSTABLE LENGTH VACUUM CLEANER WANDFiled Jan. 28, 1964 THEIR ATTORNEY United States Patent 244,437ADJUSTABLE LENrn VACUUM CLEANER WAND ware Filed Jan. 28, 1964,8er. No.340,742 2 Claims. (Cl. 285-7) This invention pertains, in general, totelescoping conduits; and, more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner wand,the length of which may be telescopically adjusted and latched at anyone of a number of desired positions to provide an adjustable lengthwand.

With a tank-type -or canister-type vacuum cleaner it is usual to couplea rigid hollow wand between a suction hose and a suction cleaning tool.The wand serves the dual purpose of providing a handle for manipulatingthe nozzle and providing a conduit for conveying air and dust from thesuction nozzle to the hose. Hence, the wand must be able to transmitsubstantial force applied in a longitudinal direction and it must beairtight as well. One conventional kind of Wand includes two wandsections which may be coupled end-to-end to form a long wand. If asmaller length of wand is required only one section -is used. Thereforewith such a wand arrangement the housewife can use either a long orshort wand, depending on the kind of cleaning task involved, but is notable to have a wand of intermediate length.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedvacuum cleaner Wand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleanerwand the length of which may be adjusted to any one of a plurality oflengths and is positively locked in each such position of adjustment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide vacuum cleanerwand which, although adjustable as to length, is nevertheless airtight.

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a vacuum cleaner wand comprising inner and outertubular wand sections which are coaxially arranged so that the innerwand section may be telescopically moved within the outer wand section.The inner wand section has at one end thereof a resilient ring whichprovides a slidable seal between ,the outer surface of the inner wandsection and the inner surface of the outer wand section. Mounted on theouter surface of the inner wand section and extending along ,asubstantial length thereof is a bar-like element which has a series .ofspaced apart slots therein. The series of slots extends from one end ofthe bar-like element to the other. Mounted at one end of the outer wandsection is a releasable latch member which includes a protruding tongueadapted to be received in any one of the slots in the bar-like element,depending upon the telescoped position of the inner wand sectionrelative to the outer wand section. The latch member also includes astop member which limits the length to which the inner section can beextended outwardly from the outer .wand section.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tank type vacuum cleaner apparatusemploying the adjustable wand according to the present invention;

3,244,437 Patented Apr. 5, 1,966

"ice

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of a length of atwo-section wand according to the present lnvention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the wand ofFIG. 2 as viewed along the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the wand of FIG. 2 as viewed along the line 44of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a crosssectional view of the wand of FIG. 2 as viewed alongthe section line 55 of FIG. 4; and,

FIG. 6 is another cross-sectional view of the wand as viewed along thesection line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated the telescoping wand, designatedgenerally by the reference number 16, in accordance with the presentinvention. It is comprised of an outer wand section 18 and an inner wandsection 20. As shown, there is provided a tank or canister 10 whichincludes therewithin a dust bag and a suction producing fan. Coupled tothe suction port of the tank 10 is one end of a flexible suction hose12. The suction hose 12 has at the other end thereof a rigid hollowhandle 14 which is inserted into the flanged, tapered end 18c of theouter wand section 18. Telescopically arranged within the outer wandsection 18 is the inner wand section 20.

FIGS. 2-6 illustrate the wand of the present invention in more detail.As shown the inner wand section 20 has at one end thereof a tapered endsection 20a which is adapted for insertion into cleaning tools, such asthe dusting brush 22 shown in full lines in FIG. 1 or the floor nozzle24 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. At the opposite end of the innerwand section 20 there is provided an enlarged diameter end section 20b.A circular groove 200 is defined in the outer periphery of the enlargedend section 20b. Seated within the groove 200 is a resilient sealingelement 34, such as, for example, an O-ring which may be made fromrubber or the like.

Fastened along the outer surface of the inner wand section 20 is achannel or bar-like member 30. Rivets such as 26 and 28 are used forfastening the channel member 30 on the surface of the inner wand section20. As shown the channel member 30 has a series of slots 32 32 definedtherein. This series of slots extends from one end of the channel memberto the other.

The outer wand section 18 has a skirt or inwardly turned flange 18a atone end thereof which, as shown in FIG. 3, is in close contact with theouter surface of the inner wand section 20. At the other end of the wandsection 18 there is a tapered flange (FIG. 1) which receives the hosehandle 14. There is a slot 18b (FIGS. 2 and 5) formed in the skirt 18aof the wand section 18. This slot 18b allows the channel member 30 tomove unobstructedly into and out of the outer wand section 18 as theinner Wand section 20 is telescopically positioned within the outer wandsection, but, the slot 18b prevents ,rotative movement of one wandsection relative to the other.

As shown in FIG. 3 there is provided a slot 48 in the outer wand section18 and as shown at FIG. 6 there is also provided additional slots 50 and52. The slots 48, 50 and "52 serve to receive various portions of alatch 36 for the purposes'hereinafter described.

Mounted by means of a rivet 38 on the outer wand section 18 is thereleasable latch designated, generally, by the reference number 36. Thelatch 36 is made of resilient spring steel and, as shown at FIG. 3, isformed at one end with an upturned lifting tap 46 which, as hereinafterexplained, may be manipulated to release an inwardly extending tongue 40of the latch from engagement with any of the slots 32 so that the wandsections 18 and 20 may be telescopically moved relative to each other.When the desired overall length of the wand is thus attained, the latch36 is released. If it happens to be aligned with a slot 32 the tongue 40will enter the slot; but, if not, the tongue 4% will bear against thechannel 30 between slots and a slight telescopic movement in eitherdirection will cause the tongue 40 to be aligned with and enter aparticular slot 32 so as to positively lock the wand sections in thisposition.

As is illustrated in FIG. 3 the latch 36, being of spring steel or thelike, is normally in the position shown, in heavy lines. When fingerpressure is applied to the lifting tab 46 to move it upwardly, the latch36 will assume the dotted line position. However, as shown in full linesthe tongue 40 normally passes through the slot 48 and one of the slots32 which is in register with slot 48. As a result, the wand sections 18and 20 cannot he slidably moved with respect to each other. The liftingof the latch 36 to the dotted line position will enable the inner wandsection 20 to be positioned so that any one of the slots 32 may comeinto register with the slot 48 thereby enabling the tongue 40, when tab46 is released, to lock the wand sections together.

As shown at FIGS. 3 and 6, the tabs 42 and 44, or stop members, formedin the latch 36 limit the extent to which the inner wand section 20 maybe withdrawn from the outer wand section 18 because these tabs 42 and 44abut against the enlarged diameter end section 20b of the inner wandsection 20. As shown at FIG. 6 the tabs 42 and 44 of the latch 36 passthrough the slots 50 and 52 which are provided in the outer wand section18. The tabs also prevent the latch 30 from pivoting about the rivet 38.

At every one of the telescoped positions of the inner and outer wandsections, the O-ring seal 34 provides an airtight seal between the innersurface of the outer wand section and the outer surface of the enlargeddiameter end section 20b of the inner wand section.

The inner and outer wand sections as well as the channel member 30 maybe made from a rigid metallic material, such as aluminum or chromeplated steel. Also, hardened plastic compounds may be used if desired.The latch member 36 is advantageously formed from a spring steel or ifdesired a hard resilient plastic material.

There are numerous reasons why it is advantageous to be able to adjustthe length of wand 16. When cleaning a floor, a suction nozzle 24, shownin dotted lines in FIG. 1, is connected to the lower end of section 20.Ordinarily, the sections would be fully extended, but if the operator isunder average height, the sections 18 and 2t may be telescoped to someintermediate position. For cleaning stairs, it is convenient to fullytelescope the sections. Also, for cleaning above the floor, such asdrapes, picture frames, mouldings and the like, a dusting brush 22,shovm in full lines in FIG. 1, may be used, and

the wand adjusted to various lengths in accordance with the height ofthe object above the floor.

While there is shown and described one more or less specific embodimentof the invention, it is to be understood that this has been done forpurposes of illustration, only, and that the scope of the invention isto be determined from the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fluid conveying device comprising: an imperforate inner conduithaving an enlarged short longitudinal end section with a peripheralgroove therein; a sealing member situated in said groove; an elongatedmember mounted on the outer surface of said inner conduit, saidelongated member including an elongated section spaced from the surfaceof said inner conduit and extending a substantial distance along thelength of the inner conduit, said elongated section having a series ofapertures therethrough, said series extending a substantial distancealong the length of said elongated section; an outer conduittelescopically receiving for sliding movement therewithin said innerconduit including its enlarged end section and said elongated member,the enlarged end section of said inner conduit leading the telescopicadvancement of said inner conduit and the elongated member through saidouter conduit starting from next to a short longitudinal end section ofthe outer conduit whilst said sealing member continuously provides anairtight seal between both said conduits, the short longitudinal endsection of said outer conduit having first and second longitudinallyspaced apertures therethrough; a resilient latch mounted on the endsection of said outer conduit, said latch including a tongue, a tab anda lifting member, said tongue normally protruding through said firstaperture and through any one aperture of said series which may besituated in register with said first aperture whereby said conduits maybe latched in any one of a plurality of telescopic positions, saidlifting member being operable to withdraw said tongue from said oneaperture of said series to permit the telescopic repositioning of saidconduits, said tab protruding through said second aperture to engage theenlarged end section of the inner conduit when said enlarged end sectionis next to said end section of said outer conduit to prevent withdrawalof the inner conduit from the outer conduit, said second aperture andtab being laterally oifset from said first aperture and tongue to permitsaid elongated member to move unobstructedly into and out of said outerconduit.

2. A fluid conveying device comprising: a first tubular body having anenlarged diameter end section which has a groove circumferentiallydefined therein; a resilient ring situated in said groove and protrudingoutwardly there- .from; an elongated bar member fastened to the outersurface of the first body and extending a substantial distance along thelength of the first body, said bar member having defined therein aplurality of slots arranged in series extending a substantial distancealong the bar member; a second tubular body coaxially receiving thefirst body and bar member for telescopic movement with respect thereto,said resilient ring forming a seal between the outer surface of thefirst bodys end section and the inner surface of the second body; and areleasable latch member mounted on an end section of the second body andadapted for engagement with said bar member through any one of the slotstherein in order to latch the first tubular body in any of a pluralityof positions between a position in which it is substantially fullyextended from an end of said second tubular body and a position in whichit is substantially fully inserted within said second tubular body, saidend section of the second body having an aperture therethrough, saidlatch member including a first protruding member which passes throughthrough said aperture to engage with said bar member through any one ofsaid slots when one of said slots is in register with said aperture,said protruding member being releasable from one of said slots to permitcoaxial sliding of the first body, said end section of the second bodyhaving a second aperture therethrough, and said latch member including asecond protruding member which passes through the second aperture, saidsecond protruding member being of sufiicient radial length to abut theenlarged diameter end section of the first body to prevent withdrawal ofthe first body from the second body, said second protruding member andsecond aperture being ofiset relative to said bar member whereby the barmember and first body may slide into the second body without contactingthe second protruding'mcmber.

(References on following page) Refere'gces Cited by the Examiner UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Pattison 285319 Freeman 285303 Smith 285319 Sweet285--303 Baternan 85319 Grove 285-303 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

R. 'GIANGIORGI, Assistant Examiner.

1. A FLUID CONVEYING DEVICE COMPRISING: AN IMPERFORATE INNER CONDUITHAVING AN ENLARGED SHORT LONGITUDINAL END SECTION WITH A PERIPHERALGROOVE THEREIN; A SEALING MEMBER SITUATED IN SAID GROOVE; AN ELONGATEDMEMBER MOUNTED ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID INNER CONDUIT, SAIDELONGATED MEMBER INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SECTION SPACED FROM THE SURFACEOF SAID INNER CONDUIT AND EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ALONG THELENGTH OF THE INNER CONDUIT, SAID ELONGATED SECTION HAVING A SERIES OFAPERTURES THERETHROUGH, SAID SERIES EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCEALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID ELONGATED SECTION AN OUTER CONDUITTELESCOPICALLY RECEIVING FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREWITHIN SAID INNERCONDUIT INCLUDING ITS ENLARGED END SECTION AND SAID ELONGATED MEMBER,THE ENLARGED END SECTION AND INNER CONDUIT LEADING THE TELESCOPICADVANCEMENT OF SAID INNER CONDUIT AND THE ELONTAGED MEMBER THROUGH SAIDOUTER CONDUIT STARTING FROM NEXT TO A SHORT LONGITUDINAL END SECTION OFTHE OUTER CONDUIT WHILST SAID SEALING MEMBER CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDES ANAIRTIGHT SEAL BETWEEN BOTH SAID CONDUITS, THE SHORT END SECTION OF SAIDOUTER CONDUIT HAVING FIRST AND SECOND LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APERTURESTHERETHROUGH; A RESILIENT LATCH MOUNTED ON THE END SECTION OF SAID OUTERCONDUIT, SAID LATCH INCLUDING A TONGUE, A TAB AND A LIFTING MEMBER, SAIDTONGUE NORMALLY PROTRUDING THROUGH SAID FIRST APERTURE AND THROUGH ANYONE APERTURE OF SAID SERIES WHICH MAY BE SITUATED IN REGISTER WITH SAIDFIRST APERTURE WHEREBY SAID CONDUITS MAY BE LATCHED IN ANY ONE OF APLURALITY OF TELESCOPIC POSITIONS, SAID LIFTING MEMBER BEING OPERABLE TOWITHDRAW SAID TONGUE FROM SAID ONE APERTURE OF SAID SERIES TO PERMIT THETELESCOPIC RESPOSITIONING OF SAID CONDUIS, SAID TAB PROTRUDING THROUGHSAID SECOND APERTURE TO ENGAGE THE ENLARGED END SECTION IS NEXT TO SAIDEND SECTION WHEN SAID ENLARGED END SECTION IS NEXT TO SAID END SECTIONOF SAID OUTER CONDUIT TO PREVENT WITHDRAWAL OF THE INNER CONDUIT FROMTHE OUTER CONDUIT, SAID SECOND APERTURE AND TAB BEING LATERALLY OFFSETFROM SAID FIRST APERTURE AND TONGUE TO PERMIT SAID ELONGATED MEMBER TOMOVE UNOBSTRUCTEDLY INTO AND OUT OF SAID OUTER CONDUIT.